Does communication in your organisation sometimes feel like a game of broken telephone, where messages don’t always land the way they’re intended? Follow these insights for smoother interactions that have a higher probability of finding common ground.

Despite the many technological aids to human interaction, we still often find ourselves talking at cross purposes. Moreover, some digital aides have ironically steered us away from meaningful engagement with others toward exchanges conducted in ever more disjointed and succinct bursts.

When we do get together for longer periods in technology-mediated situations, we find ourselves dealing with the mental strain of communicating in virtual environments, further hindering effective collaboration. Due to tech’s outsized impact on our communication habits, we may also struggle to arrive at conclusions that reflect common or shared insights, even in face-to-face encounters, leading to misunderstandings—and sometimes, even conflict.

Miscommunication can have a massive impact on business. It is little wonder that interpersonal communication skills continue to be ranked among the most in-demand attributes in the workplace. As our attention spans shrink and we find ourselves faced with a time crunch for engaging in meaningful conversation, keep in mind the following tips to help ensure that you and your colleagues are on the same page.

Understand your biases and set them aside so they don’t cloud your ability to share and receive information as impartially as possible.

Despite cultural, linguistic, and experiential differences, humans have a lot in common. Be ready to price in the impact of these variations on your ability to interact with others.

It’s important to be aware that we are all affected by our emotions. Aim to manage emotional barriers by micro-mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing, and extend empathy toward others who may be experiencing psychological tremors.

Be fully present and pay close attention to others when they are speaking to ensure full comprehension. Avoid jumping to conclusions and filling in perceived blanks.

Rehearse techniques like paraphrasing and asking for clarification to ensure you arrive at a shared understanding.

Try aligning your communication style with that of your discussants, but always aim for simplicity and clarity. Be mindful of non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language and hand gestures.

Don’t be afraid to ask for and provide open and honest feedback to explore different perspectives. This helps to ensure a shared understanding and builds trust.

Understand the limitations of digital tech. It’s not easy to manage tone and nuance in emails and text messages, and once sent, it’s virtually impossible to influence how readers receive your message. For sensitive or difficult conversations, opt for face-to-face communication or at least a live interaction.

Remember that effective communication is the anchor of fruitful collaboration. It is a facilitator in cultivating an inclusive and uplifting organisational culture and is a major factor in business success.

By Denise Wall